Virginia Teacher License Lookup: Verify Credentials Before You Rely on Them
Use the official Virginia Department of Education educator license lookup when you need to verify an active Virginia teaching or educator credential. Match the correct person, then review the license type, endorsement information and expiration before using the result for hiring, school placement, credential review or personal records.
VerificationLicense.org is an independent informational website. It does not issue, renew, approve, suspend, revoke or change Virginia educator licenses.
Quick Answer: How to Use the VDOE License Lookup
Open the official Virginia active educator license search and enter the educator’s first name, last name or Virginia license number. Open the matching result and confirm the credential belongs to the correct person before checking the license type, endorsement or endorsements and expiration information.
The public lookup is not a complete historical database. VDOE specifically states that its active search does not include inactive or expired licenses, pending actions, licenses on hold or local licenses. That distinction matters when a search returns nothing.
If you need to verify an educator licensed in another state, use our nationwide teacher license verification guide to find the correct state licensing authority rather than assuming Virginia’s database covers an out-of-state credential.
Use the license number when available
A license number helps reduce similar-name errors. If you only have a name, compare the complete record carefully before deciding that it belongs to the educator you are checking.
Read the endorsement
An active educator license does not automatically authorize every subject, grade band or professional role. Match the endorsement to the actual assignment.
Do not treat a blank result as final
An expired, pending, on-hold or local license may be absent from the active query. Use the troubleshooting workflow below before drawing a conclusion.
Virginia Teacher License Lookup: Step-by-Step
This is the practical workflow for parents, educators, school HR staff, credentialing teams and employers who need to verify an active Virginia educator credential.
Open the official VDOE active-license search
Start with the state-linked public query instead of a school biography, resume, social profile, private directory or old paper certificate.
Search by license number when you have it
The current verification interface supports license-number searching. This is particularly useful when the educator has a common first or last name.
Otherwise search by the educator’s name
Use the first and last name shown on the person’s licensure records. If the result is missing, consider a former legal name, name change, hyphenation or spelling variation.
Open the matching record
Review the license details displayed by the official query instead of relying on the result-list name alone.
Confirm endorsement and expiration
Check whether the endorsement fits the subject, grade range or professional role being verified and whether the credential is still within its active validity period.
Save a dated verification record
For employment or compliance use, record the source, date checked, educator name, license number, credential type, endorsement information and expiration date.
Do not upload Social Security numbers, transcripts or private employment documents to an unofficial verification website. The public VDOE search is intended for public credential information.
What the VDOE Public License Search Includes
Understanding the scope of the database prevents one of the most common verification errors: assuming that every Virginia educator credential, past or present, must appear in the public active query.
| Credential situation | Active public query | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active Virginia educator license | Expected to appear when the search details match. | Verify the person, license type, endorsement and expiration. |
| Expired or inactive license | VDOE states that inactive or expired licenses are not included. | Use renewal guidance or VALO rather than treating an old certificate as current proof. |
| Pending application or pending action | Not included as an active issued license. | The applicant should monitor VALO and VDOE correspondence. |
| License on hold | VDOE states that on-hold licenses are not included. | Use the appropriate VDOE licensure contact or license-holder account route. |
| Local Eligibility License | Local licenses are excluded from the statewide active query. | Verify the locally issued credential through the issuing school division. |
Virginia school boards may issue qualifying educators a one-year, nonrenewable Local Eligibility License that is valid only within the issuing school division. It should not be confused with a normal statewide credential appearing in the active public query.
Check the License Type, Endorsement and Expiration Together
Finding the correct name is only the beginning. A useful verification answers whether the credential is active and whether it fits the job the educator is actually performing.
Identify the actual credential
Virginia uses multiple educator-license categories. Renewable professional licenses, provisional credentials and specialized licenses can have different requirements and limitations.
Match the authorized area
The endorsement identifies the subject, grade span or professional field associated with the license. Employers should compare it with the actual assignment.
Verify current status, not old paperwork
A previously issued certificate may be useful for identifying the educator, but the current VDOE record is the better source for active-license verification.
A current Virginia educator license does not by itself prove that the holder is appropriately endorsed for elementary education, secondary mathematics, special education, school counseling, administration or another specialized assignment. Read the endorsement information.
No VDOE License Lookup Result? Troubleshoot It in This Order
A blank result can come from the search information, the credential’s status or the type of license involved. Work through these causes before assuming the educator has never been licensed.
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| No name match | Spelling difference, former name, name change or hyphenation. | Try the exact legal name and license number if available. |
| License used to appear | It may now be expired or inactive. | Use current renewal guidance or VALO rather than the active-only public query. |
| Application recently submitted | The application is still pending and no active license has been issued. | Monitor VALO for correspondence and document requests. |
| School says the person has a local license | Local Eligibility Licenses are issued through Virginia school divisions. | Contact the issuing school division’s licensure or HR office. |
| Wrong professional database | The person may hold a healthcare or other occupational license rather than an educator credential. | Use the profession’s actual Virginia licensing authority. |
If the person is a healthcare professional rather than a teacher, use the correct credential system. Our Virginia CNA license verification guide covers nurse aides, while the Virginia medical license verification guide covers physicians and other Board of Medicine professions.
An application receipt, payment confirmation, transcript submission, assessment result or employer recommendation should not be treated as an active Virginia teaching license until the official credential has been issued.
How to Check Virginia Educator Discipline and Adverse License Actions
For higher-stakes hiring or safety review, current status may not be the only information you need. VDOE also publishes information about adverse educator licensure actions.
Review adverse licensure actions
VDOE maintains a record of licenses and endorsements denied, revoked, suspended, cancelled, reinstated or reprimanded by the Virginia Board of Education.
Do not replace required screening
The public credential lookup is useful, but schools should still follow their own required background, employment and professional-practices screening procedures.
Professional Practices
VDOE lists professional.practices@doe.virginia.gov for inquiries involving professional practices and adverse licensure actions.
VDOE License Lookup vs VALO: Use the Right Tool
The public license query and Virginia Licensure Online solve different problems. The public lookup is for active credential verification; VALO handles the license holder’s application and account workflow.
| Task | Public License Lookup | VALO |
|---|---|---|
| Verify an active educator | Yes. This is the main public verification route. | License holders can also view their own active credential. |
| Apply for an initial license | No. | Yes. Initial applications can be submitted through VALO. |
| Add a degree or endorsement | No. | Available for eligible licensure requests. |
| Change name or address | No. | Use the applicable online update workflow. |
| Renew a license | No. | Available to eligible individuals who are not currently employed by a Virginia public school division or nonpublic school. |
| Read VDOE application correspondence | No. | Yes. Applicants should monitor VALO for VDOE messages and requests. |
VDOE states that the former eGOV online licensing portal was taken offline on December 31, 2024. VALO requires registration for a VALO account; an old eGOV username and password do not function as VALO credentials.
Virginia Teacher License Renewal Requirements
Virginia renewal requirements depend on the credential. Current Virginia regulations provide a 270-point requirement for specified renewable 10-year licenses and a 180-point requirement for individuals renewing qualifying five-year renewable licenses.
270 professional development points
Virginia’s renewal regulation identifies 270 professional development points within the 10-year validity period for covered renewable licenses.
180 professional development points
Individuals renewing qualifying five-year renewable licenses must meet the 180-point renewal requirement.
Statutory requirements also apply
Renewal can include required training and role-specific requirements in addition to professional development points.
Current VDOE statutory renewal training
| Training | VDOE-listed duration | Who should note it |
|---|---|---|
| Child abuse and neglect recognition and intervention | 5 hours | Instructional personnel seeking renewal. |
| Emergency first aid, CPR and AED | 5 hours | Includes the required hands-on CPR component. |
| Dyslexia awareness | 5 hours | Part of the statutory renewal training list. |
| Special education training | 10 hours | Includes VDOE-listed Meaningful IEP and evidence-based instruction components. |
| Cultural competency | 15 hours | Part of the statutory renewal training list. |
| School counselor mental-health training | 10 hours | Applies to school counselors. |
| Virginia history or state and local government module | 5 hours | Applies to specified endorsement areas. |
VDOE directs educators employed by a Virginia public school division or accredited nonpublic school to work with the appropriate licensure representative in their employing educational agency for licensure submissions.
Eligible individuals who are not currently employed by a Virginia public school division or nonpublic school can use the VDOE renewal route available through VALO and should review the current renewal manual before submitting.
Current Virginia Teacher Licensure Fees
VDOE’s licensure fee schedule revised in January 2025 lists the following common charges. Because state fees can change, verify the current official schedule immediately before payment.
| Licensure action | Current listed fee | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Initial license — in-state | $100 | Current VDOE fee for an initial in-state license application. |
| Initial license — out-of-state | $150 | Current VDOE fee for an initial out-of-state application. |
| License renewal | $50 | VDOE states renewal requests may be submitted after January 1 of the year the license expires. |
| Add or evaluate an endorsement | $50 | Eligibility and submission route depend on the endorsement and applicant situation. |
| Add a degree | $25 | Use VDOE’s current licensing-services instructions for the applicable submission route. |
VDOE says payments for applicable mail or employer-submitted requests can be made by personal check, money order, certified check or cashier’s check payable to the Treasurer of Virginia.
Virginia Teacher License Reciprocity for Out-of-State Educators
An educator licensed elsewhere should not expect the Virginia lookup to show a record until Virginia has actually issued a credential. VDOE currently describes both a traditional reciprocity pathway and universal licensure by reciprocity.
Comparable credentials may qualify
VDOE says educators who completed a state-approved preparation program, hold a valid out-of-state educator credential or hold qualifying national certification may be eligible for comparable Virginia endorsement areas.
Three years can matter
Virginia’s universal reciprocity route applies to qualifying teachers holding a valid out-of-state license with full credentials and at least three years of teaching experience in non-virtual classroom settings.
Out-of-state license is not a Virginia license
Do not treat the source-state credential or a pending Virginia application as an active Virginia license. Verify again after VDOE issues the Virginia credential.
Depending on the reciprocity route, the applicant may need the current out-of-state credential, official transcripts, preparation-program information, experience documentation and other materials requested by VDOE.
Not in the Lookup Yet? Understand Initial Virginia Licensure
A person who has applied but has not yet received a Virginia license should track the application through VALO rather than expecting a pending application to appear in the active public query.
What VDOE generally reviews
- An assigned Social Security number for the application process.
- A bachelor’s degree for most license routes, with an exception for the Technical Professional License.
- Content-area knowledge.
- Professional studies coursework where applicable.
- Prescribed assessments where applicable.
- Student teaching, practicum or applicable experience.
- Statutory licensure requirements.
Use VALO to monitor the case
- Create and maintain a VALO account.
- Submit the correct application route.
- Pay the applicable licensure fee.
- Monitor VDOE correspondence.
- Respond to requests for missing documentation.
- Use the public lookup after the credential becomes active.
Recent VDOE licensure updates state that the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment requirement was eliminated. Applicants should use the current VDOE assessment guidance for their exact route and endorsement instead of an older third-party checklist.
VDOE instructs applicants who submit paper materials to register for VALO and check it periodically because important licensure correspondence and requests can be communicated through the online system.
Virginia School HR Credential Verification Checklist
For hiring or assignment review, save enough information that another reviewer can understand exactly what credential was checked and whether it fits the position.
- Official VDOE source used.
- Date verification was completed.
- Educator’s full name.
- Virginia license number.
- License type.
- Endorsement or endorsements.
- Expiration date.
- Assignment fit for the subject, grade or professional role.
- Adverse-action review when required.
- Verifier name or initials under the employer’s normal procedure.
- Resume statement.
- School staff biography.
- Old paper license.
- Undated screenshot.
- Pending VALO application.
- Assessment pass notice.
- Out-of-state credential without Virginia issuance.
- Active license without checking the endorsement.
VDOE Teacher Licensure Contacts and Address
Use the contact that matches the problem. General licensure, VALO technical support and professional-practices questions use different VDOE contact routes.
| Need | Official contact | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Licensure | 804-786-2302 licensure@doe.virginia.gov |
General Virginia educator-licensure and application questions. |
| VALO technical support | licensuretechsupport@doe.virginia.gov | VALO account and online-application technical problems. |
| Professional Practices | professional.practices@doe.virginia.gov | Professional-practices and adverse-licensure-action questions. |
| Licensure mailing address | Virginia Department of Education Office of Licensure and School Leadership PO Box 2120 Richmond, VA 23218 |
Paper applications or documents when current VDOE instructions require mail submission. |
The Virginia Department of Education is in the James Monroe Building at 101 N. 14th Street, Richmond, VA 23219. VDOE’s visitor guidance encourages arranging an appointment before visiting and requires visitors to follow building-security procedures.
Official Virginia Teacher License Resources
Use the official resource that matches the task. The public query verifies active licenses; VALO and VDOE licensing pages handle applications, changes, renewal and supporting documentation.
Virginia Teacher License Lookup FAQs
How do I use the VDOE license lookup?
Open the official Virginia active educator license query, search by first name, last name or license number, open the matching record, and confirm the license type, endorsements and expiration before relying on the credential.
What records appear in the Virginia teacher license lookup?
The public VDOE query covers active teaching and educator licenses issued by the Virginia Board of Education. VDOE states that inactive or expired licenses, pending actions, licenses on hold and local licenses are not included in the active query.
Can I search a Virginia teacher by license number?
Yes. The current verification interface provides a license-number search field in addition to first-name and last-name fields. A license number is useful when several educators have similar names.
Why can’t I find a teacher in the VDOE lookup?
Check the spelling, legal name and license number first. A record may also be absent because the credential is expired, inactive, pending, on hold or locally issued by a Virginia school division.
Does an active Virginia teacher license mean the educator can teach any subject?
No. An active license should be checked together with its endorsement or endorsements. Schools and employers should confirm that the credential matches the subject, grade span or professional assignment.
Does the VDOE public lookup show expired teacher licenses?
No. VDOE describes the public query as an active-license search and states that inactive or expired licenses are not included. License holders with renewal questions should use current VDOE renewal guidance and VALO when applicable.
How can a Virginia educator print an active license?
VDOE states that license holders can view and print their active Virginia educator certificate through VALO. Active licenses can also be publicly verified through the active-license lookup.
How do Virginia teachers renew a license?
Educators employed by a Virginia public school division or accredited nonpublic school should work through the appropriate licensure representative in their educational agency. Eligible individuals who are not currently employed by such an agency can use the applicable VDOE renewal route through VALO and should review the current renewal manual and statutory requirements.
How much does a Virginia teacher license renewal cost?
The current VDOE fee schedule lists a $50 license-renewal fee. Check the official fee schedule before submitting payment because state fees can change.
How do I check disciplinary action against a Virginia educator license?
Use the VDOE Teacher Licensure page and its record of licenses and endorsements denied, revoked, suspended, cancelled, reinstated or reprimanded. VDOE also lists professional.practices@doe.virginia.gov for professional-practices and adverse-licensure-action questions.
Verify the License, Then Verify the Assignment
For a Virginia teacher license lookup, start with the official VDOE active-license query and match the educator by name or license number. Confirm the license type, endorsements and expiration rather than relying only on a name match or an old certificate.
If no record appears, determine whether the credential is expired, pending, on hold or locally issued before assuming the educator has never been licensed. Use VALO for application and eligible renewal workflows, and review VDOE’s adverse-action record when a deeper employment or safety check is required.